Nyasa Big Bullets FC

Nyasa Big Bullets is a Malawian professional association football club based in Blantyre, currently playing in the TNM Super League, the top division of Malawian football. The club was formerly known as Bata Bullets, Total Big Bullets and Bakili Bullets. Nyasa Big Bullets are regarded as the most successful club in Malawian football history, having won the Super League of Malawi a record 17 times.

Nyasa Big Bullets
Full nameNyasa Big Bullets Football Club
Nickname(s)
  • The People’s Team
  • Maule
  • Mapale
Short nameNBB
Founded1966 (1966)
GroundKamuzu Stadium
Capacity65,000
CoachCallisto Pasuwa
LeagueTNM Super League
2022TNM Super League, 1st of 16 (champions)
WebsiteClub website

History

The club was formed in 1967 by a group of players who split from Mighty Wanderers. The original name was Nyasaland Bullets, but the club managed to source good sponsorship from Bata Shoe Company and was renamed as Bata Bullets.[1]

1970 season was a great success as Bullets achieved a treble after winning the Blantyre and Districts Football League (BDFL), the Chibuku Cup and Castle Cup.

In 2003, then Malawi President Bakili Muluzi adopted the team and renamed it Bakili Bullets. It was during this period that the team enjoyed one of its glamorous periods, reaching the lucrative group stages of CAF Champions League 2004.[2][3]

It was also during the same period that the club had a training camp in the United Kingdom in readiness for the CAF Champions League. Currently the team is sponsored by Nyasa Manufacturing Company (NMC).[4] Its nickname ever since is Maulle (native language for bullets).

On 8 October 2018, Rodgers Yasin was sacked as Nyasa Big Bullets head coach along with assistant Elijah Kananji.[5]

Bullets are currently coached by former Zimbabwe national team manager Callisto Pasuwa, with former captain and Malawi national team defender Peter Mponda as his assistant.

Stadium
Main article: Kamuzu Stadium

Kamuzu Stadium is a stadium located in Blantyre, with a capacity of 50,000 seats. It is located next to the Malawi National Council of Sports Offices.

The Blantyre derby

The Blantyre derby between Big Bullets and Mighty Wanderers is a fiercely contested match and in contrast to most of the other games played in the Malawi TNM Super League, matches between the two rivals always attract a large fanbase.

Honours

Domestic
  • Super League of Malawi:
  • Castle Cup (Malawi)
    • Winners (4): 1969, 1970, 1973, 1975
  • Kamuzu Cup
    • Winners (7): 1974, 1975, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1986
  • 555 Challenge Cup:
    • Winners (1): 1990
  • Embassy Trophy:
    • Winners (1): 2003
  • Chombe Tea:
    • Winners (2): 1998, 1999
  • Carlsberg Cup:
    • Winners (3): 2002, 2014, 2017
  • Tutulane Charity Cup:
    • Winners (1): 2007

Airtel Top 8 Cup Winners (1) : 2021

  • Carlsberg Charity Cup:
    • Winners (1): 2012
  • Presidential Cup:
    • Winners (2): 2012, 2016
  • Chifundo Charity Shield:
    • Winners (3): 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022

Continental

Performance in CAF competitions
2000 – Preliminary round
2004 – Group stage
2015 – First Round
2018–19 – Preliminary round
2019–20 – Preliminary round
2020–21 – Withdrew
2021–22 – First Round
1975: Second Round
1979: Withdrew in First Round
1993: Withdrew in preliminary round
1976 – First Round
1977 – Second Round
1997 – First Round
1998 – Preliminary round
1999 – First Round

Current squad 2023–24

As of August 2023

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  MWI Rabson Chiyenda
2 MF  MWI Erick Kaonga
3 DF  MWI Nickson Nyasulu
4 MF  MWI Blessings Mpokera
5 DF  MWI John Lanjesi
6 MF  MWI Frank Willard
7 DF  MWI Precious Sambani
8 MF  MWI Mike Mkwate
9 FW  MWI Hassan Kajoke
10 MF  MWI Ernest Petro
11 MF  MWI Righteous Banda
12 MF  MWI Alick Lungu
13 DF  MWI Yamikani Fodya
14 DF  KEN Clyde Seneji
15 DF  MWI Gomezgan Chirwa
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 GK  MWI Clever Mkungula
17 MF  MWI Henry Kabichi
18 FW  MWI Mphatso Magombo
19 FW  MWI Lanjesi Nkhoma
20 MF  MWI Precious Phiri
21 FW  MWI Anthony Mfune
22 MF  MWI Stanley Billiat
23 GK  MWI Richard Chimbamba
24 MF  MWI McFallen Mgwira
25 DF  MWI Kesten Simbi
26 DF  KEN Collins Okumu
28 DF  MWI Yankho Singo
29 MF  MWI Patrick Mwaungulu
30 FW  MWI Maxwell Gastin Phodo
31 MF  MWI Chawanangwa Gumbo
32 MF  ZIM Kenneth Pasuwa
33 FW  MWI Ephraim Kondowe

Club officials/technical team
  • Chief Executive Officer: Suzgo Nyirenda
  • Board President: Konrad Buckle
  • Board Members: 1. Stone Mwamadi, 2. Fleetwood Haiya, 3. Malinda Chinyama, 4.Sadick Malinga, 5. Dimitri Kalaitzis, 6.Democrotos Kalaitzis, 7 Rev. Moyenda Kanjerwa, 8. Chifundo Makande, 9.Albert Chigoga, 10. Noel Lipipa, 11. Konrad Buckle, 12. Escort Chinula
  • Head Coach: Kalisto Pasuwa
  • Assistant coach: Peter Mponda (1st), Heston Munthali (2nd)
  • Team Manager: James Chilapondwa
  • Goalkeeper Trainer: Swadick Sanudi
  • Team Doctor: Felix Mwalule
  • Kitmaster: Malumbo Chikoko
  • Media Manager: Kimpho Loka

References
  1. "Former Big Bullets most memorable mentor, Team Manager John Gilmore passes on in UK". maraviexpress.com. 12 November 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  2. "CAF – CAF Error Page". cafonline.com. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  3. http://championsleague.mtnfootball.com/live/content.php?Item_ID=280%5B%5D
  4. "Match Report – Boston United vs Bakili Bullets". bufc.drfox.org.uk. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  5. Kadewere, Jeromy (9 October 2018). "Malawi: Bullets Sack Coaches After Masters Defeat". Nyasa Times (Leeds). Retrieved 17 December 2018.
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